Community Builders - A Chico Podcast
Community Builders, is a podcast dedicated to celebrating and spotlighting the individuals who make a positive impact in Chico, California and the surrounding North State region.
Each episode dives deep into the journeys, insights, and efforts of local leaders, activists, and changemakers who are shaping this community through dedication and innovation.
With thoughtful conversations and inspiring stories, Community Builders offers listeners a closer look at the people behind impactful projects.
Community Builders - A Chico Podcast
Episode #4 - Muir Hughes
In Episode #4 of Season 2 of Community Builders, we sit down with Muir Hughes, the longtime owner of Chico’s beloved downtown bookstore and one of the creative forces behind Chikoko.
Muir shares why bookstores still matter in a world built for speed and convenience, and how simply walking through the door can reconnect people to curiosity, empathy, and each other. She reflects on what she has seen from behind the counter over the years, including how browsing habits and our relationship with discovery have changed in the internet era.
We also dive into Chikoko’s 20 year legacy, including their recent show Beast, how the group built an experimental fashion show from the ground up, and why it resonates so deeply with Chico. Muir breaks down the audition process, the power of local models, and the permission the show gives people to be bold and expressive. She also highlights the Bizarre Bazaar, one of Chico’s most iconic local maker events.
The conversation expands into the bigger picture, exploring how loneliness, screens, and the loss of shared spaces have reshaped connection, and why acts of service may be the clearest path back to community.
Follow us on Instagram: @community.builders.chico
👉 Watch the live video recorded episode here
EPISODE CREDITS:
Hosted by Dorian Cohen
Produced by Metric Studios
Edited by Michael Bone and Seth Ryan Trachtman
Audio mixed by Michael Bone
Artwork designed by Dorian Cohen
Segment jingles licensed through Music Bed
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